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Liverpool vs Manchester City player ratings: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Mohamed Salah steal the show

We run the rule over the two teams at Anfield

Sunday 14 January 2018 19:15 GMT

Liverpool vs Manchester City player ratings

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1/23Liverpool vs Manchester City player ratings

Liverpool vs Manchester City player ratings

<b>Liverpool:</b> Alisson: 6 out of 10

Not his busiest afternoon. Looked uncomfortable in possession a couple of times but nothing egregious.

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Liverpool vs Manchester City player ratings

Joe Gomez: 6 out of 10

More of a centre-back than a right-back and Liverpool missed Trent Alexander-Arnold’s ability to get forward on the right. Defensively solid, as you would expect.

EPA

Liverpool vs Manchester City player ratings

Dejan Lovren: 8 out of 10

Perhaps fortunate not to concede a penalty on Aguero in the first half, and on Jesus in the second, but otherwise a good performance with some crucial challenges. Rewarded his manager’s bold call to bring the Croatian in.

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Liverpool vs Manchester City player ratings

Virgil van Djik: 7 out of 10

Probably a leading contender for man of the match until his late transgression. A fairly needless challenge on Sane with the German likely running the ball out of play. Otherwise magnificent (again).

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Liverpool vs Manchester City player ratings

Andrew Robertson: 6 out of 10

Kept Riyad Mahrez virtually silent throughout the game, but wasn’t his usual self in terms of attacking threat.

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Liverpool vs Manchester City player ratings

Georginio Wijnaldum: 6 out of 10

Hard work as ever from the Dutchman. Unable to impact the game going forward.

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Liverpool vs Manchester City player ratings

Jordan Henderson: 7 out of 10

Lead from the front with a battling performance in midfield. Composed on the ball and tackled excellently.

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Liverpool vs Manchester City player ratings

James Milner: 6 out of 10

Substituted in the first half with a hamstring injury. Impressed early on, and Liverpool perhaps missed his experience and delivery when he went off.

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Liverpool vs Manchester City player ratings

Mohamed Salah: 5 out of 10

Still doesn't look himself. Wasted a couple of opportunities and the front-three’s lack of cohesion will be a concern for Jurgen Klopp.

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Liverpool vs Manchester City player ratings

Roberto Firmino: 6 out of 10

Pressed superbly and tracked back notably well. Not a vintage performance from any of Liverpool’s star offensive trio against a tough Manchester City defence.

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Liverpool vs Manchester City player ratings

Sadio Mane: 6 out of 10

See Salah and Firmino. Mane was similarly ineffective getting forward but worked hard.

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Liverpool vs Manchester City player ratings

<b>Substitute:</b> Naby Keita: 6 out of 10

Tidy performance after coming off the bench in the first half. Positionally very solid.

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Liverpool vs Manchester City player ratings

<b>Manchester City:</b> Ederson: 6 out of 10

No major errors, which is a positive given what happened last season. Liverpool’s press worried him early on but otherwise comfortable with the ball at this feet. No real saves to make.

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Liverpool vs Manchester City player ratings

Kyle Walker: 6 out of 10

Restricted going forward aside from one moment where he bizarrely chopped back inside. Defensively solid.

EPA

Liverpool vs Manchester City player ratings

John Stones: 7 out of 10

Overcame early nerves to perform well alongside Laporte. Salah only really got beyond the pair once and Stones used the ball nicely when stepping out of defence.

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Liverpool vs Manchester City player ratings

Aymeric Laporte: 8 out of 10

Perhaps his best performance in a Manchester City shirt. Virtually faultless after the aforementioned early shakiness. Several superb challenges and interceptions.

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Liverpool vs Manchester City player ratings

Benjamin Mendy: 7 out of 10

Guardiola will be very pleased to have Mendy fit again. Showed his defensive steel, not giving Salah and co. an inch. Looked one of Manchester City’s more dangerous players when he got forward. A couple of poor passes but otherwise a strong return to action.

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Liverpool vs Manchester City player ratings

Fernandinho: 6 out of 10

Somehow escaped the game without a yellow card despite several booking-worthy challenges, but broke up play well and sparked several attacks for his team. Shielded his defence well.

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Liverpool vs Manchester City player ratings

Bernardo Silva: 7 out of 10

Probably the best non-defender on the pitch. Playing in what was, for all intents and purposes, a two-man defensive midfield pairing, Silva was excellent, breaking up play and playing clever little passes. Showed his electric dribbling ability more than once, too. Impressive performance from a man who continues to show his versatility.

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Liverpool vs Manchester City player ratings

David Silva: 6 out of 10

An intriguing tactical switch from Guardiola to deploy David Silva in a different role just in behind Sergio Aguero. Silva was less influential than he typically is, but worried the Liverpool midfield and knocked them off rhythm.

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Liverpool vs Manchester City player ratings

Raheem Sterling: 5 out of 10

Quiet and struggled to make an impact in the final third. Sterling didn’t look entirely comfortable on the left wing. Substituted with 15 minutes to go.

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Liverpool vs Manchester City player ratings

Riyad Mahrez: 4 out of 10

Awful, awful penalty miss, and in truth it characterised a lacklustre showing from Mahrez. He hasn’t really found his place in this Manchester City team and used the ball poorly in the final third throughout.

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Liverpool vs Manchester City player ratings

Sergio Aguero: 5 out of 10

Continued his lean run against Liverpool and was anonymous for most of the 65-or-so minutes he was on the pitch. Contributed little.

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Liverpool scored three times in nine second-half minutes on the way to a dramatic 4-3 win over Manchester City on Sunday which ended the Premier League leaders' unbeaten start to the season.

Liverpool struck after less than 10 minutes when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain surged forward from midfield to collect a neat layoff from Roberto Firmino and send a low shot past City keeper Ederson.

Leroy Sane equalised five minutes before the interval, but Liverpool blew City away after halftime with Firmino chipping Ederson to restore the home side's lead and Sadio Mane striking from the edge of the box.

Egypt international Mohamed Salah looked to have completed the rout when he collected Ederson's clearance and sent the ball sailing back over the stranded keeper's head, but City substitute Bernardo Silva grabbed one back and midfielder Ilkay Gundogan prodded home in stoppage-time.

City's first league defeat this season left them 15 points clear at the top, ahead of Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea.

But how did the players perform? Check the gallery above to see who flourished and who struggled?

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